For Anatoly

[keepurshirtonlt]

The visions were getting worse.

Visions, that’s what Trip had to keep telling himself they were. The Xindi were not on Tabula Rasa. They were not on Earth, even this odd pocket of realty. Other people were experiencing the same thing, well, not seeing aliens but seeing other things. He just had to keep reminding himself that it wasn’t just him.

But it was getting harder by the day. At first it had just been the Aquatics. Then the Primates and Humanoids. But lately, he’d started getting glimpses of Reptilian and Insectoid Xindi, the two more war like races that Enterprise had not been able to negotiate with. They had been set to destroy Earth and humankind no matter what, even after it was discovered that it would make no difference in the fate of the Xindi in the schemes of the Spherebuilders.

Coffee. That’s what Trip needed. Coffee. Well, really he felt alcohol wouldn’t go amiss but it was a little too early in the day for it. Though, if these visions kept getting worse…he might rethink the whole proper time of day thing. As it was, the nightmares had already returned so sleep was a precious commodity. And so…coffee.

Trip entered the rec room and went right for the coffee pot, glad that someone had already made a pot. He didn’t think his nerves could handle waiting at the moment. And the first sip was met with a sigh of relief as his nerves were soothed for a few moments at least.

Or at least until he turned around. There, sitting at the table, was Degra. The Xindi who had built the weapon that had attacked Earth and killed his sister. The rational part of Trip’s brain (that sounded like Jon) was telling him that Degra had been killed by the Xindi for helping Enterprise after he had a change of heart about his weapon…but Trip wasn’t listening to that part of his brain. Alls he could do was stare at the creature that had caused him so much torment.

“You know, I should be surprised to see you here…but I’m not.”

Comments

[chesspolitik]

Though he tried to hide it, Anatoly was angry. Very very angry. This place was supposed to be his refuge, his sanctuary, the one place where he was free from the terrors of home. It was his paradise and it was spoiled now for the island had allowed Molokov to arrive.

Molokov was being maddeningly elusive, Anatoly had only been able to catch a glimpse or two of him before he vanished into to the crowd but he was there. Watching, waiting, observing. He would wait until the perfect moment to strike and Anatoly knew he would be powerless to stop him from having his revenge.

And now, as if all of this was not bad enough, he had to walk into the rec room and see Walter de Courcey. The man looked different then the last time he had seen him but it was him. There was no doubt of that. He could hide everything but his damnable voice.

"I could say the same about you," Anatoly crossed his arms and glared.

[keepurshirtonlt]

Trip came forward with his coffee but didn't sit down. He leaned against the wall, just staring at Degra, who was glaring back.

"This place sure is hell. Guess it makes sense ta have ya here."

[chesspolitik]

"I would have thought you would be thrilled," Anatoly said. "Your counterpart is here and there is no one to stop the two of you from ruining lives for your own twisted enjoyment."

[keepurshirtonlt]

"What does he know?" Trip scoffed off the thought of Kirk and McCoy. Really, what did they know? They had the benefit of Trip's Enterprise's experience. Archer and his crew had gone in blind, only with the help of a single Vulcan and the occasional help of arrogant Andorians. "He can't do anythin' without us. And if anyone is gonna be gettin' twisted enjoyment out of this, it's you. Like watchin' us squirm, huh?"

[chesspolitik]

"I would like to see you say that to his face," Anatoly said, shaking his head in disbelief. The two of them had worked so closely together and now de Courcey was disparaging him. Even worse, this was more serious then he had realized. There were apparently a whole gathering of spies on the island. They were all very much in trouble.

"Oh yes," he added sarcastically. "Of course I love you watching you squirm. It is my only reason for life."

[keepurshirtonlt]

"Be happy to. Wanna watch?" Trip said bitterly, not that he'd give Degra the pleasure. He wasn't going to let a fucking Xindi be present when he dressed down another Starfleet officer.

"An' I knew it! How any more people ya gonna take out huh? Seven million wasn't enough?" Now he defensive and stood up straighter, hands clenched in fists. Oh how he wanted to hit the alien sitting in front of him. For his sister, his state and his crew. And even a little for himself.

[chesspolitik]

"Seven million people?" Anatoly stared at de Courcey in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind? I am most certainly not the monster here. It is you, it is all you. You may think only a few people know but I will make sure that everyone here will know!"

[keepurshirtonlt]

"You slaughter people an' I'm the monster. Really?" How could he deny this? Even when Degra had been on Enterprise, he'd hadn't denied it.

Then he gave a short bark of harsh laughter. "An' what's that? What exactly could you say 'bout me that makes me the monster?"

[chesspolitik]

De Courcey had in fact lost his mind, Anatoly thought. Perhaps he had been too long in the sun, perhaps Molokov had drugged him - whatever the case, the wise thing to do would be to leave him alone.

But Anatoly was angry and so very tired of rearranging his life to hide from them and he wanted to fight back. "Where shall I start? Your lies? How you use people? Your choice of compatriots?"

[keepurshirtonlt]

Slights against himself Trip could take. Slights against his 'compatriots' aka Enterprise, he could not.

"Why you no good alien bastard!" And he threw himself across the room, quite ready to strangle the damn alien with his own two hands.

[chesspolitik]

Perhaps foolishly, Anatoly hadn't expected de Courcey to charge after him and he barely managed to get out of the way. He let out a string of curses in Russian and charged after him. If de Courcey wanted a fight then he would get one.

[capable_of]

This was not the first time Lex had come upon Anatoly in fight. But he had to say, he wasn't expecting it, especially with their neighbor, when he came looking for his Russian in the kitchen.

"Hey!" He shouted in his most authoritative voice as he moved in between them, pushing them apart. "What the hell is going on here?"

[keepurshirtonlt]

For some reason, it was Lex stepping between them that snapped Trip out of whatever had possessed him. He saw Anatoly across from him, not the alien he thought he was talking too.

"Huh? What the heck? Anatoly? What are you doin' here?"

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly blinked a few times. He had... de Courcey had been in front of him, hadn't he? He was sure of it and yet there was only Trip. Trip and a very put-upon looking Lex. He rubbed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.

"I am not sure. I - de Courcey was here, right in front of me, I swear."

Perhaps Freddie was right and he had lost his mind.

[capable_of]

The fight suddenly seemed to drain out of the two men and Lex relaxed, though he stayed between them. Just in case. He knew Anatoly was suffering from fears and it seemed like Tucker was in the same situation.

"Let me guess. You thought each other was someone else." Lovely. The island had struck again. "Are you both alright?"

[keepurshirtonlt]

"I thought you were..." Trip shook his head. He didn't want to explain who Degra was, nor did he think Anatoly would like to be compared to an alien. "Doesn't matter."

He looked at Anatoly with a sadly sympathetic look. "You too huh?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Nah, I'm fine I promise. Sorry 'bout that."

[chesspolitik]

"I am sorry too," Anatoly said to Trip, his head bowed. He felt embarrassed and ashamed that he had behaved so disgracefully to Trip. He didn't understand how he could have mistaken the man for his CIA nemesis. "I hope that you can forgive me."

[capable_of]

Lex rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "It was the island's fault." He put a stress in his voice so the two would hear him. "I don't think either of you are really to blame." And how much did he hate that he couldn't fix this for Anatoly.

He moved closer to Anatoly, putting a hand on his back in their subtle way of showing affection in public. "Do either of you need help back home?"

[keepurshirtonlt]

Even if Trip didn't know about Anatoly and Lex, he couldn't ignore the signs now. While Lex was doing a good job at appearing impartial, he could tell Lex just wanted to protect Anatoly. So to help that goal, he shook his head and moved to pick up his discarded coffee cup. "I think I'm gonna hang out here for a while. Get some more coffee. I'll be alright in a bit."

[chesspolitik]

"I think I would like to go home," Anatoly said dully, leaning against Lex. "I think perhaps I need to get out of the sun and rest for awhile."

He wasn't sure that he could sleep but he had to try. Anything was better than sitting and reliving the horrible argument he had just had with Trip. Sleep and then perhaps some tea and somehow the world would be right again.

[capable_of]

"I think that's a good idea." Lex said, not even bothering to hide the protectiveness in his voice. "I hope the coffee helps, Trip." He said politely before leading Anatoly out of the room and towards home.